ACADEMIC ADVISING PERCEPTIONS OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A FIRST YEAR - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

ACADEMIC ADVISING PERCEPTIONS OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE WHERE THEIR ADVISOR SERVES AS THE SEMINAR INSTRUCTOR Kristi Bitz Mayville State University Director of Counseling and Student Retention

Where’s Mayville?

About us (enrollment and retention)  133 - average Freshman class size over the past ten years  90 Freshman incoming 2008  147 Freshman incoming 2009  57.7% Freshmen retention average over past ten years  60% of Freshmen came back for fall 2008  61% of Freshman came back for fall 2009 (highest since 1993 – fjrst fall term after new FYE course implementation)

In the beginning…  Work group formed including: • VP for student afgairs • A coach (from our largest recruiting sport) • Faculty from several academic divisions • Housing stafg  Discussed needs and concept for FYE course  Concepts run by student tutors. Feedback was great.

SOS was birthed  Freshman Seminar changed to Seminar on Success  One full semester course  Letter graded, one credit course, versus previous S/U grading  Met for two hours, once per week Fall 2008, tried pairing with another GE  Met for 1 ¼ hours per week, Fall 2009, no GE pairing  Over 90% of Freshmen enrolled in 2008 and 2009 compared to 7% to 39% from 1996 to 2007 (average of 22%)

Data collected  Retention  NSSE – Spring 2007 compared with Spring 2009  SOS Survey  Focus Group  Fall 2009 Advising Perceptions Study

NSSE – Spring 2007 Freshmen Compared to Spring 2009 Freshmen confjdence level Participated in a community based project 99.12% (e.g. service learning) as part of a regular course Overall, how would you evaluate the quality of 96.82% academic advising you have received at your institution? How would you evaluate your entire educational 89.66% experience at this institution? Understanding yourself 94.07% T o what extent does your institution emphasize helping you 97.57% cope with your non-academic responsibilities (work, family, etc.)

SOS Survey Fall 2008 Fall 2009 Survey participation of enrolled students 77%69% Think the class should be required of all 68% (yes)61% (yes) all incoming freshmen Course impacted decision to remain at 33% (yes)20% (yes) Mayville State T op T opics Educational Planning and Decision Making1 1  Finding a Path to Your Future 1 3  The Value of a Liberal Arts Education 2  Life Management Skills (time and money) 2 5  Improving memory and T est Performance3 4 

Focus Group – Spring 2009  Feedback refmected much of what the Fall 2008 course survey revealed  Students thought a required text gave the course added merit but frustration was expressed if the text was utilized poorly  Morning class is not appealing – especially if prior to 10 AM  Activities made the class better – in and out of class

Fall 2009 Advising Perceptions Survey  137 Freshmen enrolled at time of study  113 completed survey (82% response rate)  104 enrolled in SOS (+1 no response indicated)  8 not enrolled  After factor analysis, three constructs were identifjed including advisor concern, advisor contact, and advising relationship quality  Between group comparisons did not yield signifjcant results (although mean agreement was higher for those enrolled in SOS on the constructs of advisor concern and advising relationship quality)

What’s next  Peer Leaders  Review student feedback  Bimonthly instructor meetings throughout spring  Freshmen/SOS activities  Advisor changeover event  Spring student focus group  Course content and text decisions  Advisor/Instructor base solidifjed

Questions? Kristi Bitz Mayville State University kristi.bitz@mayvillestate.edu 701.788.4772